New Belgium adds tanks, extends distribution

The Fort Collins brewery begins installation of 16 new tanks as it prepares to ship beer to Louisiana and Alaska in 2013.

Dec. 17, 2012

A worker looks up at the connections between a crane and a new fermentation tank being delivered to New Belgium Brewing Co. on Monday in Fort Collins. New Belgium is installing 16 new tanks to help it meet the needs of a growing distribution area. / V. Richard Haro/The Coloradoan

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A fermentation tank is lifted slightly to get the truck that carried it out of the way at New Belgium Brewing Co. on Monday in Fort Collins. New Belgium is installing 16 new tanks to help it meet the needs of a growing distribution area. / V. Richard Haro/The Coloradoan

Follow the Brew Trail

New Belgium Brewing Co. on Monday began installing 16 new tanks at its Fort Collins brewery in anticipation of expanding its distribution network in 2013.

The brewery, which currently ships beer to 29 states and the District of Columbia, plans to add Louisiana and Alaska to its distribution area in 2013. New Belgium spokesman Bryan Simpson said the increase in distribution pushed the brewery’s need to add capacity. High winds Monday curbed the installation, which is scheduled to continue Tuesday.

Currently, New Belgium has a brewing capacity of about 800,000 barrels per year. The brewery is on pace to produce about 770,000 barrels this year, Simpson said.

Through Saturday, the brewery will install 16 tanks: 12 2,200-hectoliter fermentation tanks and four 2,200 hectoliter bright tanks. The $10-million expansion will push New Belgium’s capacity to 840,000 barrels per year.

Simpson said there are no projections yet for how much beer the brewery will produce in 2013, but noted the year-over-year trend has been to increase production.

New Belgium anticipates its beers will become available in Alaska and Louisiana in April.

New Belgium also plans to open a new brewery in Asheville, N.C., in 2015. Groundbreaking on the Asheville facility is scheduled for spring 2013. The facility will have an initial production capacity of 400,000 barrels per year.